MELBOURNE, Australia, April 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NBA Center Andrew Bogut confirmed today that he would be available to play for the Australian National Team at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Finishing his third NBA season, the 23-year old Milwaukee Bucks and Australian Boomers Center averaged a career high 14.3 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.7 blocks over 78 regular season games, marking the third consecutive season that he had increased his averages. The recently completed 2007-2008 Season was an overwhelming success for Bogut, in which Bogut ranked #11 in the NBA in rebounds per game (9.8); #9 in the NBA in Blocks Per Game (1.73); and #12 in double-doubles with 38.
In 226 career NBA games, the Melbourne, Australia native has improved in each season and demonstrated that he is one of the top young Centers in the NBA. In fact, Bogut's improvement has made it a near certainty that the Milwaukee Bucks will seek to sign the center to a long-term extension, on July 1, in order to secure one of the key foundations of their team for the next six years. Bogut, along with Chris Paul and Deron Williams, are the star players from the 2005 NBA Draft class.
Assuming the Bucks and Bogut reach an agreement on July 1, 2008, a contract would be subject to Bogut passing a medical examination and signing a contract no earlier than July 9, 2008 in Milwaukee, when the NBA moratorium on contracts signings ends, according to NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement rules governing such negotiations. Bogut will then depart Milwaukee to join his Australian teammates back in Australia.
"With the recent hiring of new General Manager John Hammond and new Head Coach Scott Skiles, and (team owner) Senator Kohl's statements that he is committed to making the Bucks into a winning organization, it is my hope and desire to remain in a Bucks' uniform for many years to come. The main thing is I like what I heard from John Hammond about the direction the Bucks are moving towards. We all want to win next year and I know the fans want to win. I have come to love Milwaukee and its fans, I have adopted it as my home, and I would like to be here long-term," said Andrew Bogut.
"As for any negotiations, I leave all business matters to my agent David Bauman. As David explained the rules to me, if we are successful in agreeing to a long-term contract extension on July 1, which is my hope, I would not be able to sign a contract until July 9, 2008, at the earliest. Given my commitment to the Australian National Team, I told David if we are going to agree to a new deal to get it done quickly with Mr. Hammond and Senator Kohl, so that I can join my Australian teammates and put any contract thoughts behind me," Bogut continued.
"I do not anticipate any major issues with the Bucks this summer. I have a great relationship with new-General Manager John Hammond, as well as with team owner Senator Kohl. Andrew has improved each of his three years in the NBA, and he has established himself as one of the top young centers in the NBA and a key component of the Buck's future. Andrew's goal is to remain with Milwaukee for the long-term, and to turn them into a winning team, and we have heard nothing but positive things from the Bucks. Yesterday's hiring of Scott Skiles is yet another positive step in the right direction for the Bucks franchise," said David Bauman, Bogut's agent and President of Hoops Management.
"Andrew is very patriotic and passionate about playing for his country and he will do everything in his power to ensure that he is ready and available for the Olympics. Unfortunately the delay in joining the Boomers for their training camp is out of his control. I am confident that this will be resolved in time for Andrew to join the Boomers in camp back in Australia by mid July," said, Bruce Kaider, Director of One Management Group & Consulting.
Basketball Australia Chief Executive Scott Derwin acknowledged Andrew's commitment to the team, "Whilst we would have liked Andrew to be with us for the entire duration of our Olympic preparation, we fully understand the steps he must take to ensure the best outcome for his career in the NBA. It will be great to have him back in the green and gold come July and in Beijing for the Games."
David Bauman is the President & Founder of Hoops Management, which is Live Nation's Basketball Division. Hoops Management is a full-service marketing and management company, specializing in the representation of professional basketball players throughout the NBA and the world. Our clients include Peja Stojakovic, Vladimir Radmanovic, Othella Harrington and Andrew Bogut, among others. We are an independent subsidiary of Live Nation, Inc., the worlds' largest producer and marketer of live entertainment.
One Management Group & Consulting is a marketing and consulting company specializing in marketing top athletes to corporations world-wide. In addition to representing Andrew Bogut in the Pacific Rim, One also represents fellow Australian and WNBA player Lauren Jackson.
SOURCE Hoops Management
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